“Three Hundred Forty-four Days Upon the Water”

Monte S. Nyman

The Lord caused the furious wind to blow and brought the Jaredites to the promised land (v. 5). The winds were also the controlling factor for delivering the Nephites to the land of promise (see 1 Nephi 18:8, 21–23). The Jaredites experienced great storms upon the waters, as did the Nephites (Ether 6:6–7, 10; 1 Nephi 18:13–14). Both of the ships of the Jaredites and Nephites were built according to a pattern given by revelation (see Ether 2:16–17 above; compare 1 Nephi 17:1–5; 18:1–4). The comparison to the ark of Noah (Ether 6:7) is another interesting parallel for it was also built according to a pattern given by revelation from the Lord (see Genesis 6:14–16); and it was upon the waters for 190 days (see Genesis 7:11–24). However, Noah and his family remained on the ark for an entire year (see Genesis 8:13), an interesting comparison to the 344 days of the Jaredites being upon the water (Ether 6:11). The Jaredites recognized the Lord as their navigator (v. 9) as did Nephi and undoubtedly many others of Nephi’s group (see 1 Nephi 18:20–21).

Book of Mormon Commentary: I Mormon Make a Record

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